September 26, 2015

Cartoon: Volkswagen Emissions Scandal

BACKGROUNDThe German car giant Volkswagen has admitted cheating emissions tests in the US. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), some cars being sold in America had devices in diesel engines that could detect when they were being tested, changing the performance accordingly to improve results. Read more >>

CARTOONThe cartoon by Chappatte in The International New York Times shows a Volkwagen car emitting some nasty looking fumes. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is a passenger in the car. A poor Greek man with a bicycle comments, "So you've been lying and cheating — and Europe will pay the price?"

IDIOMTo pay the price is to ​experience the ​bad ​result of something you have done (or someone else has done). • If you ​abuse ​your ​body now, you'll pay the ​price when you're ​older.

COMMENTARYThe cartoon compares the Greek Debt Crisis and the austerity measures that Germany insisted on in return for successive bailouts with the VW crisis that Germany that is now facing. However, in the latter case, Europe as a whole will "pay the price" in terms of increased pollution and even deaths (note the skull and crossbones depicted in the exhaust fumes). You could say that it's one law for the rich, and another for the poor.

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Cartoon: Volkswagen Emissions Scandal

BACKGROUNDThe German car giant Volkswagen has admitted cheating emissions tests in the US. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), some cars being sold in America had devices in diesel engines that could detect when they were being tested, changing the performance accordingly to improve results. Read more >>

CARTOONThe cartoon by Chappatte in The International New York Times shows a Volkwagen car emitting some nasty looking fumes. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is a passenger in the car. A poor Greek man with a bicycle comments, "So you've been lying and cheating — and Europe will pay the price?"

IDIOMTo pay the price is to ​experience the ​bad ​result of something you have done (or someone else has done). • If you ​abuse ​your ​body now, you'll pay the ​price when you're ​older.

COMMENTARYThe cartoon compares the Greek Debt Crisis and the austerity measures that Germany insisted on in return for successive bailouts with the VW crisis that Germany that is now facing. However, in the latter case, Europe as a whole will "pay the price" in terms of increased pollution and even deaths (note the skull and crossbones depicted in the exhaust fumes). You could say that it's one law for the rich, and another for the poor.